A 12-year-old girl who suffered a gunshot wound to the head during the Aug. 27 shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis is making “miraculous” progress.
Two children, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, were killed and 21 other people were injured when a gunman opened fire on a back-to-school Mass.
Sophia Forchas was among the most severely injured and doctors initially warned her family that she “was on the brink of death.”
“In that darkest hour, the world responded with faithful devotion and fervent prayer. We thank you for all the prayers, love, and unwavering support from across the globe,” her family said in a statement Friday.
Update on Sophia from the Forchas Family:
Two weeks ago, our beloved Sophia suffered a devastating gunshot wound to the head. Doctors warned us she was on the brink of death. In that darkest hour, the world responded with faithful devotion and fervent prayer. We thank you for… pic.twitter.com/lRcDCk2vlg
— John Kriesel (@johnkriesel) September 12, 2025
“Last week, rays of hope emerged. Dr. Walter Galicich shared that Sophia was showing signs of resilience. Wednesday, the hospital upgraded her condition from critical to serious. She is now off the breathing tube and able to breathe on her own. Her progress to this point is being called miraculous. We are calling it a miracle,” the statement continued.
UPDATE: 12-year-old Sophia Forchas, a victim in the Annunciation shooting, remains in critical condition.
Her neurosurgeon says: "I'm going to be blunt: Sophia is still in critical condition in the intensive care unit. There's a chance that she's maybe the third fatality of… pic.twitter.com/vEgBY1uEUJ
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) September 5, 2025
“The road ahead for Sophia is steep, but she is climbing it with fierce determination. She is fighting not just for herself, but for every soul who stood by her in prayer.”
The family asked for continued prayers. A GoFundMe has been set up to support Sophia and her family in the recovery process. GoFundMe has also created a centralized hub of verified fundraisers for families of the victims.
“She is a warrior!” Sophia’s family said. “And she is winning!!”
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
